0119 Chapter nine asks the question, “What changes when sin begins?”

The doctrine of original sin entails a loss of relationality among humans and between humans and God.  

0120 Genesis 2:4-4 portrays the loss in a narrative that may be interpreted in a variety of ways.  In particular, for our modern age, two platforms for interpretation stand out, corresponding to the two actualities that constitute our current Lebenswelt.

0121 Standing for the twist in human evolution_2H, the hypothesis of the first singularity_2H, classifies the stories of Adam and Eve_1V as witnesses to the social dynamics of the Ubaid of southern Mesopotamia.  The Ubaid experiences trends, potentiated by the semiotic qualities of speech-alone talk, toward increasing labor and social complexity.  Adam and Eve are fairy-tale figures, depicting a process in which humans, in our current Lebenswelt, innocently and stupidly and selfishly misread the signs of God.

0122 From the vantage point of the doctrine of original sin_2V, one sees Adam and Eve_1V as particular historical individuals who originate humanity’s tragic flaw, a compulsion to negligence, forgetfulness and narcissism.

0123 Augustine’s formulation of original sin_2V is part diagnosis and part deduction.

The diagnosis is that we cannot help but enter into concupiscence.  Concupiscence is the desire to put self before God.  Concupiscence is the desire to feel good about oneself.  Concupiscence is the desire to feel good, period. Really good.  No matter what the consequences.

The deduction is that the imputation of the rebellion in the Garden of Eden passes directly from Adam and Eve to all humanity.  Adam and Eve are the first humans according to Genesis 2:4-4, even though Cain, their son, finds a wife from who knows where.  Augustine can think of no other way to account for the spread of the originated sin from Adam and Eve to all humanity.

0124 Sixteen centuries later, the science of genetics debunks Augustine’s deduction.

Is there no other way to account for the spread of sin from Adam to all humanity? 

Now there is.

The hypothesis of the first singularity_2H addresses many of the questions that Loren Haarsma dwells on.

When does sin begin?

Consider the e-masterwork, An Archaeology of the Fall.